Floor assembly and floor securing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A floor securing apparatus comprises a riser slot formed in a floor riser transverse to a longitudinal axis of the floor riser, the floor riser configured to support a floor sheet and a key including a locking head and at least one anchor tab, wherein the key is slidable into the riser slot transverse to the longitudinal axis of the floor riser, wherein the key is configured to engage a portion of the floor sheet to prevent vertical movement of the floor sheet relative to the floor riser.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/381,760, filed on Aug. 31, 2016, and entitled “FloorAssembly and Floor Securing Apparatus” and U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 62/384,418, filed on Sep. 7, 2016, and entitled “Floor Assembly andFloor Securing Apparatus.”

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to a floor assembly and floorsecuring apparatus and, more particularly, to a floor assembly and floorsecuring apparatus for securing floor sheet to structural components ofrefrigerated trailers.

Refrigerated trailers need to be securely assembled to withstand therigors of a long service life while minimizing manufacturing andmaterials costs. Many prior art embodiments require placing the flooringmaterials in place, drilling holes through the flooring materials intothe floor assembly substructure, and securing the flooring materialswith an attachment device. These methods for securing a floor require asignificant amount of labor and require a lot of movement by the workersplacing the flooring materials and drilling and then moving to the nextspot to drill. Further, the skills of the laborer placing the materialsnot only affect labor costs, but material cost as well. Inefficientplacement may result in trimming flooring materials that increase theamount of materials discarded. Further still, prior art floor securingapparatuses may induce stress in the floor materials causing the floormaterials to fatigue and break.

Accordingly, in a floor securing apparatus and floor assembly, there isa need to minimize the amount of labor required to place and secure theflooring materials and reduce or eliminate wasted materials. Further,there is a need to minimize stress introduced by securing the floormaterials to the floor assembly substructure to insure a long andmaintenance free service life.

SUMMARY

In illustrative embodiments, a floor assembly may comprise a floor sheetincluding a first end and a second end, the first end including aprotrusion extending from a bottom surface thereof, the protrusionforming a notch and a floor riser configured to support the floor sheet,the floor riser including at least one riser slot, wherein at least aportion of the protrusion of the floor sheet is positioned within atleast a portion of the riser slot. The floor assembly may furthercomprise a key including a locking head and at least one anchor tab,wherein the key is positioned within the riser slot with a portion ofthe locking head positioned within the notch of the protrusion to securethe floor sheet to the floor riser to prevent vertical movement of thefloor sheet relative to the riser.

In some embodiments, the second end of the floor sheet is configured tomate with a foot of the first end of a further floor sheet.

In some embodiments, the floor riser further includes a plurality ofriser slots spaced apart such that a number of floor sheets may beconnected to one another, thereby forming a continuous flooring surface.

In some embodiments, the key further includes a plurality of anchor tabsextending in opposing directions.

In some embodiments, the key further includes a spine and at least oneanchor tab disposed at a non-90 degree angle with respect to the spine.

In some embodiments, the bottom surface of the floor sheet and theprotrusion of the first end of the floor sheet extend a full length ofthe floor section.

In some embodiments, the first end of the floor sheet is connected to asecond end of a second floor sheet by a weld.

In some embodiments, a top surface of the key is flush with a topsurface of the riser.

In some embodiments, the first end of the floor sheet further includes adownwardly extending foot having a first portion that abuts at least aportion of a top surface of the key and a second portion that includes afirst coupling extension that extends away from the floor sheet, thesecond end of the floor sheet includes a downwardly extending leg havinga second coupling extension extending away from the floor sheet, and thefirst and second coupling extensions of different floor sheets arepositioned adjacent one another when the different floor sheets areconnected and the first and second coupling extensions are furtherconfigured to be welded together.

In some embodiments, the first end of the floor sheet further includes adownwardly extending foot from which the protrusion extends, the secondend of the floor sheet includes a downwardly extending leg, and thedownwardly extending leg of the second end and the downwardly extendingfoot of adjacent floor sheets are positioned adjacent one another andportions of the downwardly extending leg of the second end and thedownwardly extending foot are welded.

In some embodiments, the downwardly extending foot includes a notch thatreceives and retains a projection that extends inwardly from thedownwardly extending leg.

In some embodiments, the first end of the floor sheet further includes adownwardly extending foot from which the protrusion extends, thedownwardly extending foot further including a first toe portion, thesecond end of the floor sheet includes a downwardly extending leg withan outwardly extending foot having a second toe portion, and the firstand second toe portions of different floor sheets are positionedadjacent one another and a weld beam is positioned between the first andsecond toe portions.

In some embodiments, the downwardly extending foot further includes anupwardly locking heel that is spaced from the first toe portion tocreate a depression configured to form a snap fit engagement with theoutwardly extending foot of the second end of an adjacent floor sheetwhen different floor sheets are positioned adjacent one another.

In some embodiments, the first end of the floor sheet further includes adownwardly extending foot, the protrusion forming the notch beingpositioned at a lower end of the downwardly extending foot and furtherincluding a second notch formed within the downwardly extending foot andspaced from the protrusion forming the notch, the second end of thefloor sheet includes a flange, and at least a portion of the flange ofone floor sheet is configured to be positioned within the second notchof an adjacent floor sheet and a weld beam is positioned in contact withportions of the first and second ends of the floor sheets adjacent theflange and the second notch.

In another illustrative embodiment, a method of assembly floor sectionsusing a floor securing apparatus is disclosed, wherein the floorsecuring apparatus includes a first floor sheet having first and secondends and a protrusion forming a notch positioned at the first end, afloor riser having a riser slot formed therein, and a key including alocking head and at least one anchor tab. The method includes the stepsof positioning at least a portion of the protrusion of the first end ofthe first floor sheet in at least a portion of the riser slot, slidingthe key into the slot with the locking head of the key positioned withinthe notch of the first floor sheet, and positioning a second floor sheetidentical to the first floor sheet with a second floor sheet surfaceadjacent a first floor sheet surface of the first floor sheet.

In some embodiments, the method further includes the step of positioninga weld beam adjacent the first floor sheet surface and the second floorsheet surface.

In a further illustrative embodiment, a floor securing apparatusincludes a riser slot formed in a floor riser transverse to alongitudinal axis of the floor riser, the floor riser configured tosupport a floor sheet and a key including a locking head and at leastone anchor tab, wherein the key is slidable into the riser slottransverse to the longitudinal axis of the floor riser, wherein the keyis configured to engage a portion of the floor sheet to prevent verticalmovement of the floor sheet relative to the floor riser.

In some embodiments, the locking head is positioned within the riserslot when the key is positioned within the riser slot.

In some embodiments, the locking head extends outwardly away from theriser and is not positioned within the riser slot when the key ispositioned within the riser slot.

In some embodiments, a lower surface of the locking head and an uppersurface of the riser form a cavity into which a portion of a floorsection is configured to be positioned within the cavity to secure thefloor sheet to the floor riser to prevent vertical movement of the floorsheet relative to the riser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front and left side perspective view of a refrigeratedtrailer and tractor;

FIG. 2 is a cutaway front, top, and right side perspective view ofportions of a sidewall and floor assembly of the refrigerated trailer ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top, front, and left side perspective view of a portion of afloor securing apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a first embodiment of a floorassembly including a portion of the floor securing apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of a floorassembly including the floor securing apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a third embodiment of a floorassembly including the floor securing apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a fourth embodiment of a floorassembly including the floor securing apparatus of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a fifth embodiment of a floorassembly including a further embodiment of a floor securing apparatus.

Other aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will becomeapparent upon consideration of the following detailed description,wherein similar structures have like or similar reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is directed to floor assemblies and floorsecuring apparatuses for securing flooring or floor sheets or sectionsto structural members of refrigerated trailers. While the presentdisclosure may be embodied in many different forms, several specificembodiments are discussed herein with the understanding that the presentdisclosure is to be considered only as an exemplification of theprinciples of the disclosure, and it is not intended to limit thedisclosure to the embodiments illustrated.

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary refrigerated trailer 50 and tractor 52are depicted. The refrigerated trailer 50 includes a body formed from apair of rectangular sidewalls 54 (only the passenger side is visible), afront wall 56 and, a rear frame assembly comprising loading doors (notshown), a floor assembly 58, and a roof assembly 60. The front wall 56includes a refrigeration unit 62 provided thereon in any suitablemanner. A rear portion of the floor assembly 58 is supported by aconventional rear undercarriage assembly 64. Conventional landing gear66 may extend from below a front portion of the floor assembly 58 tosupport a front portion of the refrigerated trailer 50 when therefrigerated trailer 50 is not secured to a tractor 52. The refrigeratedtrailer 50 also includes an upper side rail 68 that couples the roofassembly 60 to an upper portion of each sidewall 54. The floor assembly58 and a lower portion of each sidewall 54 are coupled together by alower side rail 70. The refrigerated trailer 50 may be coupled to thetractor 52 by any means known to one having ordinary skill in the art,such as a fifth wheel assembly. In other embodiments, the vehicle maynot include a separate refrigerated trailer 50 and tractor 52, butinstead, may be a refrigerated van.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a cutaway depicting exemplary internal structuralelements of the sidewalls 54 and floor assembly 58 is depicted. Asshown, each sidewall 54 includes an inner skin 72, an outer skin 74, andat least one sidewall post 76 coupled therebetween. The sidewall posts76 are generally mounted between the inner and outer skins 72, 74 of thesidewalls 54 and are spaced apart from each other along the length ofeach sidewall 54. When assembled, the inner skin 72 is spaced apart fromthe outer skin 74 such that a wall cavity 78 is formed therebetween. Aseal 80 is provided at the bottom of the cavity 78 to separate thesidewall 54 from the floor assembly 58. Self-expanding foam is installedbetween the inner skin 72 and the outer skin 74 to create an insulatinga foam core 82 within the cavity 78 of the side wall 54.

Still referring to FIG. 2, each lower side rail 70 extends the length ofthe respective sidewall 54 and is coupled to the outer skin 74 of thesidewall 54, a lower end of the side wall posts 76, and a portion of theseal 80 by any suitable means. As can be seen in the depiction of FIG.2, the foam core 82 also couples to an upper portion 84 of the lowerside rail 70. A support tab 86 extends inwardly at approximately amidpoint of the lower side rail 70, which separates the upper portion 84and a lower portion 88 of the lower side rail 70. A generally Z-shapedmember 90 is coupled to the underside of the support tab 86 and extendsalong a length of each lower side rail 70.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 2, the floor assembly 58 includes floorsheets 92, floor risers 94, a barrier sheet or sub-pan 96, cross-members98, and a floor foam core 100. In some embodiments, the floor risers 94generally align with the cross-members 98. Each end of the cross-members98 includes an end clip 102 that is coupled to the lower portion 88 ofthe respective lower side rail 70 by any suitable means, for example,rivets or bolts. A plurality of the cross-members 98 are provided atspaced apart locations along the lower side rail 70. Each cross-member98 is integrally formed from a conventionally formed I-beam. The barriersheet or sub-pan 96 is positioned between the cross-members 98 and thefloor risers 94. The space between the floor sheets 92 and the sub-pan96 creates a floor cavity 104 in which the floor foam core 100 is formedfrom an insulating material, such as the side wall foam core 82materials, which can be poured or injected to fill the floor cavity 104.

It is contemplated that one having ordinary skill in the art wouldunderstand the variety of materials and configurations may be used toinsulate and couple the sidewalls 54 to the floor assembly 58. Moreparticularly, the internal structural elements for the sidewalls 54 andfloor assembly 58 are depicted for the purposes of example only. Itshould be understood that such internal structural elements may bevaried without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Turning now to FIG. 3, a portion of a floor securing apparatus 150 isdepicted. The floor securing apparatus 150 comprises a floor riser slot152 machined or formed in a floor riser 94 and a key 154, which isformed to slidingly engage a portion of the floor riser slot 152. Thekey 154 includes a head portion 156, a spine 158 that extends from thehead portion 156, and one or more anchor tabs 160 that protrudeoutwardly from the spine 158. The floor riser slot 152 is formed in afirst top surface 161 a of the floor riser 94 toward an opposing bottomsurface 161 b. The floor riser slot 152 generally includes a verticalslot portion 162 extending into the floor riser 94, a plurality ofoutwardly extending slot portions 164 that are generally transverse tothe vertical slot portion 162 (although only one slot portion 164 may beutilized, the vertical slot portion 162 may not be vertical, and/or theslot portion(s) 164 may be at an angle other than 90 degrees withrespect to the vertical slot portion 162), and an upper slot portion 166that forms an opening along the side surface 161 a of the floor riser 94and which may be perpendicular to the vertical slot portion 162.

As will be seen in the following embodiments, the spine 158 of the key154 is positioned within the vertical slot portion 162, the anchor tabs160 are positioned within the outwardly extending slot portions 164, andthe head portion 156 of the key 154 is at least partially positionedwithin the upper slot portion 166 with an upper surface 168 of the key154 being generally coincident or parallel to an upper surface 170 ofthe floor riser 94. The head portion 156 of the key 154 is configured tosecure a portion of a floor sheet within the floor riser slot 152 andthe anchor tabs 160 prevent the head portion 156 and spine 158 of thekey 154 from being pulled vertically out of the floor riser 94 or beingmoved in any direction other than along a longitudinal axis A of thefloor riser slot 152 and key 154 (i.e., transverse to a longitudinalaxis of length of the slot 152 and key 154). While the anchor tabs 160and the outwardly extending slot portions 164 are shown as having aparticular configuration, the anchor tabs 160 and outwardly extendingslot portions 164 may take other shapes, could be formed at any angle,or may be modified in any other suitable way, so long as verticalmovement between the floor riser slot 152 and the key 154 and movementof the floor riser transverse to the longitudinal axis of the floorriser slot 152 and key 154 are prevented.

Turning now to FIG. 4, a first embodiment of a floor assembly 250including the floor securing apparatus 150 of FIG. 3 is depicted. Thefloor assembly 250 includes the floor securing apparatus 150 of FIG. 3,which comprises the floor riser slot 152 formed or machined into a floorriser 94 and the key 154, which is positioned within the floor riserslot 152. The floor assembly 250 further includes a first floor sheet262 that has a first end 264 that includes a downwardly extending foot266. A protrusion 268 extends from a lower surface 270 of a lowerportion 272 of the foot 266. The protrusion 268 comprises a verticalsection 274 and a horizontal section 276 that define a protrusion notch278. The protrusion 268 may be integral with the floor sheet 262 or maybe coupled to the floor sheet 262 by bonding, welding, fasteners, or anyother suitable means. In some embodiments, the protrusion 268 forms partof the floor securing apparatus 150. The protrusion notch 278 is sizedas to receive a portion of the head portion 256 of the key 254, therebysecuring the first end 264 of the first floor sheet 262 to the floorriser 94.

Still referring to FIG. 4, a second floor sheet 280 includes a secondend 282 that includes a downward extending leg 284. The downwardlyextending leg 284 may extend to the floor riser 94 to provide support tothe second floor sheet 280 or may extend to the lower portion 272 of thefirst floor sheet 262, which rests on the floor riser 94, to providesupport to the first and second floor sheets 262, 280. A second endcoupling extension 286 extends outwardly from the downwardly extendingleg 284 toward the first end 264 of the first floor sheet 262 when thesecond end 282 of the second floor sheet 280 is positioned adjacent thefirst end 264 of the first floor sheet 262. The second end couplingextension 286 receives and contacts a first end coupling extension 288of the first floor sheet 262, which extends from the downwardlyextending foot 266. The first floor sheet 262 and the second floor sheet280 may be permanently joined by placing a weld bead 290 along the endsof the first end coupling extension 288 and second end couplingextension 286.

During installation of one or more floor sheets 262, 280, the protrusion268 is positioned within the upper slot portion 166 of the floor riserslot 252 and the key 254 is thereafter slid into the floor riser slot252 in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the floorriser 94 and with the head portion 256 of the key 254 positioned withinthe protrusion notch 278 of the first floor sheet 262, thereby retainingthe first floor sheet 262 in position. The second floor sheet 280 isthereafter placed in position, as shown in FIG. 4, and the weld beam 290is placed along lengths of the first and second floor sheets 262, 280.This process is repeated for each floor sheet.

It is contemplated that a load surface of the refrigerated trailer 50 isformed by multiple sections of floor sheets 262, 280 secured to thefloor risers 94 by the floor securing apparatus 250. Each floor sheet262 includes a first end 264 and an opposing second end 282; therefore,by joining a series of floor sheets 262, a continuous flooring surfacecan be formed above the floor risers 94 between the sidewalls 54. It isalso contemplated that a lower portion of the inner skin 72 of thesidewall 54 may include an appropriate structure to couple with thefirst end 264 or the second end 282 of the floor sheets 262 depending onwhat side of the refrigerated trailer 50 the inner skin is positioned.It is also contemplated that a series of floor riser slots 152 may bepre-machined or formed in the floor risers 94 prior to positioning thefloor risers 94 for assembly. Thus, the positions of the floor sheets262 are pre-determined and simple for the location and installation ofthe floor sheets 262. Further, the floor sheets 262 may be formed fromextrusion or other known processes. The pre-forming of the floor riserslots 152 also allows for the exact fitting of the floor sheets 262 andthus labor costs and material waste are reduced or eliminated. It isalso contemplated that the keys 154 may be retained within the floorriser slot 152 after the floor cavity 104 is filled with the floor foamcore 100.

Turning now to FIG. 5, a second embodiment of a floor assembly 350 isdepicted. The floor assembly 350 includes at least the floor securingapparatus 150 of FIGS. 3 and 4, which comprises the floor riser slot 152formed or machined into a floor riser 94 and a key 154, which ispositioned within the floor riser slot 152. The floor assembly 350further includes a first floor sheet 362 that has a first end 364. Thefirst end 364 includes a downwardly extending foot 366. A horizontalnotch 396 is formed by a protrusion 398 extending from the downwardlyextending foot 366. The protrusion 398 may be integral with the floorsheet 362 or may be coupled to the floor sheet 362 by bonding, welding,fasteners, or any other suitable means. In some embodiments, theprotrusion forms part of the floor securing apparatus 150. Thehorizontal notch 396 is sized to receive a portion of the head portion156 of the key 154 when the protrusion 398 of the foot 366 is positionedwithin the floor riser slot 152. A vertical notch 400 is also formed inthe downwardly extending foot 366 adjacent and above the horizontalnotch 396 by an outwardly and upwardly extending finger 401. Thevertical notch 400 is configured to receive a downwardly extending leg384 of a second end 382 of a second floor sheet 380. A portion of thefoot 366 of the first floor sheet 362 and the downwardly extending leg384 of the second floor sheet 380 are positioned adjacent one anotherbetween the vertical notch 400 and a floor load surface 404. Inillustrative embodiments, the downwardly extending leg 384 may includean outwardly extending projection 410 that is configured to form a snapor other suitable fit with a latch 412 formed on an end of the finger401. The interaction between the projection 410 and the latch 412retains the first and second floor sheets 362, 380 in relation to oneanother. Upper ends of each of the foot 366 and the downwardly extendingleg 384 may be angled to form a groove for depositing a weld bead 390 tojoin the first and second floor sheets 362, 380. In other embodiments,the upper ends of each of the foot 366 and the downwardly extending leg384 may not be angled or may otherwise be formed to accommodate the weldbead 390.

Similar to the first embodiment, during installation of one or morefloor sheets 362, 380, the protrusion 398 is positioned within the upperslot portion 166 of the floor riser slot 152 and the key 154 isthereafter slid into the floor riser slot 152 with the head portion 156of the key 154 positioned within the protrusion notch 396 of the firstfloor sheet 362, thereby vertically retaining the first floor sheet 362in position. The slot 152 and key 154 also prevent movement of the key154 and the floor sheets in any direction other than along thelongitudinal axis A of the floor riser slot 152 and key 154 (i.e.,transverse to the longitudinal axis A of length of the slot 152 and key154). The second floor sheet 380 is thereafter placed in position, asshown in FIG. 5, with the downwardly extending leg 384 positioned withinthe vertical notch 400, and the weld beam 390 is placed along lengths ofthe first and second floor sheets 362, 380. This process is repeated foreach floor sheet.

The floor assembly 350 and/or floor securing apparatus 150 evenlydistribute forces applied to the weld bead 390 and the floor loadsurface 404 down through the downwardly extending foot 366 anddownwardly extending leg 384 to the floor riser 94 and key 154. Thisforce distribution reduces the stress and strain on the floor sheets362, 380 thereby reducing the probability of a fatigue failure of afloor sheet 362, 380, for example, at the weld bead 390. It is alsocontemplated that the coupling to the inner skins 72 of the side walls54 may be mirrored by the manner in which the first and second floorsheets 362, 380 are joined. It is also contemplated that, by placing theweld bead 390 near the floor load surface, that a plurality of cool airchannels 402 may be free from obstructions and may provide increasedcooling air flow.

Turning now to FIG. 6, a third embodiment of a floor assembly 450 isdepicted. The floor assembly 450 includes the floor securing apparatus150 of FIGS. 3-5, which comprises the floor riser slot 152 formed ormachined into a floor riser 94 and a key 154, which is positioned withinthe floor riser slot 152. The floor assembly 450 further includes afirst floor sheet 462 that has a first end 464 that includes adownwardly extending foot 466. A protrusion 468 extends from a lowersurface 470 of a lower portion 472 of the downwardly extending foot 466.The protrusion 468 may be integral with the flooring sheet 462 or may becoupled to the flooring sheet 462 by bonding, welding, fasteners, or anyother suitable means. In some embodiments, the protrusion 468 may formpart of the floor securing apparatus 150. The protrusion 468 comprises avertical section 474 and a horizontal section 476 that define aprotrusion notch 478. The protrusion notch 478 is sized as to receive aportion of the upper slot portion 166 of the key 454, thereby verticallysecuring the first end 464 of the first floor sheet 462 to the floorriser 94 to prevent vertical movement of the floor sheet 462 relative tothe floor riser 94 and prevent movement of the key 154 or the floorsheets in any direction other than along the longitudinal axis A of thefloor riser slot 152 and key 154 (i.e., transverse to the longitudinalaxis A of length of the slot 152 and key 154).

Still referring to FIG. 6, a second floor sheet 480 includes a secondend 482 that includes a downwardly extending leg 484. A second foot 510is extends from a lower end of the downwardly extending leg 484. Thesecond foot 510 is sized to fit within a depression 512 defined in anupper surface 514 of the lower portion 472 of the downwardly extendingfoot 466. A first toe 516 extends upwardly from an upper surface 514 ofthe lower portion 472 of the downwardly extending foot 466. The firsttoe 516 is positioned adjacent the depression 512 such that the firstfloor sheet 462 may be permanently joined to the second floor sheet 480by forming a weld bead on the first toe 516 and a second toe 518 whichdefines a distal end of the second foot 510 of the second floor sheet480.

Similar to the first and second embodiments, during installation of oneor more floor sheets 462, 480, the protrusion 468 is positioned withinthe upper slot portion 166 of the floor riser slot 152 and the key 154is thereafter slid into the floor riser slot 152 with the head portion156 of the key 154 positioned within the protrusion notch 468 of thefirst floor sheet 462, thereby retaining the first floor sheet 462 inposition. The second floor sheet 480 is thereafter placed in position,as shown in FIG. 6, with the second foot 510 of the second floor sheet480 positioned within the depression 512, and the weld beam 490 isplaced along lengths of the first and second floor sheets 462, 480. Thisprocess is repeated for each floor sheet.

It is contemplated that the floor assembly 450 and/or the floor securingapparatus 150 may allow for the distribution of forces applied to theload surface over a larger surface area of the floor riser whilereducing stress on the weld bead 490. The stress on the weld bead 490 isreduced by the capture and locking of the second foot 510 within thedepression 512. It is also contemplated that the second foot 510 mayinclude a locking heel 520 that locks the second foot 510 within thedepression 512 by forming a snap fit with an inwardly facing protrusion522 that is positioned on a side of the depression 512 opposing thefirst toe 516. When the second foot 510 is inserted into the depression512, the locking heel 520 snaps past the inwardly facing protrusion 522,thereby locking the second foot 510 into the depression 512.

Turning now to FIG. 7, a fourth embodiment of a floor assembly 550 isdepicted. The floor assembly 550 includes the floor securing apparatus150 of FIGS. 3-6 which comprises the floor riser slot 152 formed ormachined into a floor riser 94 and a key 154, which is positioned withinthe floor riser slot 152. The floor assembly 550 further includes afirst floor sheet 562 that has a first end 564. The first end 564includes a downwardly extending foot 566. A horizontal notch 596 isformed by a protrusion 598 extending from the downwardly extending foot566. The protrusion 598 may be integral with the floor sheet 562 or maybe coupled to the floor sheet 562 by bonding, welding, fasteners, or anyother suitable means. In some embodiments, the protrusion forms part ofthe floor securing apparatus 150. The horizontal notch 596 is sized toreceive a portion of the head portion 156 of the key 154 when theprotrusion 598 of the foot 566 is positioned within the floor riser slot152. A horizontal notch 600 is also formed in the downwardly extendingfoot 566 adjacent an upper end 602 and below a horizontally extendingfinger 604. The horizontal notch 600 is configured to receive ahorizontally extending flange 584 of a second end 582 of a second floorsheet 580. A portion of the horizontally extending flange 584 of thesecond floor sheet 580 is positioned within the horizontal notch 600. Anupper surface of the horizontally extending finger 604 forms a portionof a floor load surface 606 defined by the floor sheets 562, 580. Upperends of each of the foot 566 and the horizontally extending flange 584may be angled to form a groove for depositing a weld bead 590 to jointhe first and second floor sheets 562, 580. In other embodiments, theupper ends of each of the foot 566 and the horizontally extending flange584 may not be angled or may otherwise be formed to accommodate the weldbead 590.

Similar to the first embodiment, during installation of one or morefloor sheets 562, 580, the protrusion 598 is positioned within the upperslot portion 166 of the floor riser slot 152 and the key 154 isthereafter slid into the floor riser slot 152 with the head portion 156of the key 154 positioned within the protrusion notch 596 of the firstfloor sheet 562, thereby vertically retaining the first floor sheet 562in position. The slot 152 and key 154 also prevent movement of the key154 and the floor sheets in any direction other than along thelongitudinal axis A of the floor riser slot 152 and key 154 (i.e.,transverse to the longitudinal axis A of length of the slot 152 and key154). The second floor sheet 580 is thereafter placed in position, asshown in FIG. 7, with the horizontally extending flange 584 positionedwithin the horizontal notch 600, and the weld bead 590 is placed alonglengths of the first and second floor sheets 562, 580. This process isrepeated for each floor sheet.

Turning now to FIG. 8, a further embodiment of a floor securingapparatus 1150 is depicted within a floor assembly 1250. The floorsecuring apparatus 1150 comprises a floor riser slot 1152 machined orformed in a floor riser 94 and a key 1154, which is formed to slidinglyengage a portion of the floor riser slot 1152. The key 1154 includes alocking head portion 1156, a spine 1158 that extends from the headportion 1156, and one or more anchor tabs 1160 that protrude outwardlyfrom the spine 1158. The floor riser slot 1152 is formed in a first topsurface 1161 a of the floor riser 94 toward an opposing bottom surface1161 b. The floor riser slot 1152 generally includes a vertical slotportion 1162 extending into the floor riser 94 and a plurality ofoutwardly extending slot portions 1164 that are generally transverse tothe vertical slot portion 1162 (although only one slot portion 1164 maybe utilized, the vertical slot portion 1162 may not be vertical, and/orthe slot portion(s) 1164 may be at an angle other than 90 degrees withrespect to the vertical slot portion 1162).

At least a portion of the spine 1158 of the key 1154 is positionedwithin the vertical slot portion 1162 and the anchor tabs 1160 arepositioned within the outwardly extending slot portions 1164. Unlike theprevious embodiments, at least a portion of the spine 1158 of the key1154 extends out of the vertical slot portion 1162 through the topsurface 1161 a of the floor riser 94 and the head portion 1156 is spacedfrom the top surface 1161 a of the floor riser 94 to form a notch orcavity 1170, as will be discussed in greater detail below. The headportion 1156 of the key 1154 is configured to secure a portion of afloor sheet within the notch or cavity 1170 and the anchor tabs 1160prevent the head portion 1156 and spine 1158 of the key 1154 from beingpulled vertically out of the floor riser 94 or being moved in anydirection other than along a longitudinal axis A of the floor riser slot1152 and key 1154 (i.e., transverse to a longitudinal axis of length ofthe slot 1152 and key 1154). While the anchor tabs 1160 and theoutwardly extending slot portions 1164 are shown as having a particularconfiguration, the anchor tabs 1160 and outwardly extending slotportions 1164 may take other shapes, could be formed at any angle, ormay be modified in any other suitable way, so long as vertical movementbetween the floor riser slot 1152 and the key 1154 and movement of thefloor riser transverse to the longitudinal axis of the floor riser slot152 and key 154 are prevented.

Still referring to FIG. 8, the floor assembly 1250 includes the floorsecuring apparatus 1150 and a first floor sheet 1262 that has a firstend 1264 that includes a downwardly extending foot 1266 having a havinga lower portion 1269 that, in use, is positioned adjacent the floorriser 94. The floor assembly 1250 may also include a second floor sheet1280 including a second end 1282 that includes a downward extending leg1284. The downwardly extending leg 1284 may extend to the floor riser 94to provide support to the second floor sheet 1280 or may extend to thelower portion 1269 of the first floor sheet 1262, which rests on thefloor riser 94, to provide support to the first and second floor sheets1262, 1280. A second end coupling extension 1286 extends outwardly fromthe downwardly extending leg 1284 toward the first end 1264 of the firstfloor sheet 1262 when the second end 1282 of the second floor sheet 1280is positioned adjacent the first end 1264 of the first floor sheet 1262.The second end coupling extension 1286 receives and contacts a first endcoupling extension 1288 of the first floor sheet 1262, which extendsfrom the downwardly extending foot 1266. The first floor sheet 1262 andthe second floor sheet 1280 may be permanently joined by placing a weldbead 1291 along the ends of the first end coupling extension 1288 andsecond end coupling extension 1286.

During installation of one or more floor sheets 1262, 1280, the floorsheets 1262, 1280 are positioned as shown in FIG. 8. The key 1254 isthereafter positioned in the slot 1152 with the spine 1158 within thevertical slot 1162 portion, the anchor tabs 1160 within the outwardlyextending slot portions 1164, and with an end 1290 of the lower portion1269 of the first floor sheet 1262 within the notch or cavity 1170. Thekey 1254 is then slid into the floor riser slot 1252 in a directionperpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the floor riser 94. Optionally,the first floor sheet 1262 may be positioned, the key 1254 may be slidinto place, and the second floor sheet 1280 may then be positioned asshown in FIG. 8. Regardless, once the floor sheets 1262, 1280 and/or thekey 1254 are positioned, the weld beam 1291 is placed along lengths ofthe first and second floor sheets 1262, 1280. This process is repeatedfor each floor sheet.

It is contemplated that a load surface of the refrigerated trailer 50 isformed by multiple sections of floor sheets 1262, 1280 secured to thefloor risers 94 by the floor securing apparatus 1250. Each floor sheet1262 includes a first end 1264 and an opposing second end 1282;therefore, by joining a series of floor sheets 1262, a continuousflooring surface can be formed above the floor risers 94 between thesidewalls 54. It is also contemplated that a lower portion of the innerskin 72 of the sidewall 54 may include an appropriate structure tocouple with the first end 1264 or the second end 1282 of the floorsheets 262 depending on what side of the refrigerated trailer 50 theinner skin is positioned. It is also contemplated that a series of floorriser slots 1152 may be pre-machined or formed in the floor risers 94prior to positioning the floor risers 94 for assembly. Thus, thepositions of the floor sheets 1262, 1280 are pre-determined and simplefor the location and installation of the floor sheets 1262, 1280.Further, the floor sheets 1262, 1280 may be formed from extrusion orother known processes. The pre-forming of the floor riser slots 1152also allows for the exact fitting of the floor sheets 1262, 1280 andthus labor costs and material waste are reduced or eliminated. It isalso contemplated that the keys 1154 may be retained within the floorriser slot 1152 after the floor cavity 104 is filled with the floor foamcore 100.

In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the elimination of the protrusion, forexample, element 268 of FIG. 4, allows for ease in stacking of similarfloor sheets.

While the floor securing apparatuses of the present disclosure aredescribed as securing flooring sections or sheets for a refrigerated vanor trailer, it should be understood that the floor securing apparatusesmay be utilized to secure any flooring sections in any vehicle, forexample, trailers, truck bodies, dry van or refrigerated trailers,refrigerated dry vans, flat beds, tanks, or any other vehicles.

The floor securing apparatuses disclosed herein (including the slots,keys, and/or protrusions, for example) prevent movement of both the keyand floor sheets in a vertical direction and in any direction other thanalong the longitudinal axis A of the floor riser slot 152 and key 154(i.e., transverse to a longitudinal axis of length of the slot 152 andkey 154).

Any of the embodiments described herein may be modified to include anyof the structures or methodologies disclosed in connection with otherembodiments.

Numerous modifications to the present disclosure will be apparent tothose skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description.Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative onlyand is presented for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art tomake and use the embodiments of the present disclosure and to teach thebest mode of carrying out same. The exclusive rights to allmodifications which come within the scope of the appended claims arereserved.

I claim:
 1. A floor assembly, comprising: a floor sheet including afirst end and a second end, the first end including a protrusionextending from a bottom surface thereof, the protrusion forming a notch;a floor riser configured to support the floor sheet, the floor riserincluding at least one riser slot, wherein at least a portion of theprotrusion of the floor sheet is positioned within at least a portion ofthe riser slot; and a key including a locking head and at least oneanchor tab, wherein the key is positioned within the riser slot with aportion of the locking head positioned within the notch of theprotrusion to secure the floor sheet to the floor riser to preventvertical movement of the floor sheet relative to the riser.
 2. The floorassembly of claim 1, wherein the second end of the floor sheet isconfigured to mate with a foot of the first end of a further floorsheet.
 3. The floor assembly of claim 1, wherein the floor riser furtherincludes a plurality of riser slots spaced apart such that a number offloor sheets may be connected to one another, thereby forming acontinuous flooring surface.
 4. The floor assembly of claim 1, whereinthe key further includes a plurality of anchor tabs extending inopposing directions.
 5. The floor assembly of claim 1, wherein the keyfurther includes a spine and at least one anchor tab disposed at anon-90 degree angle with respect to the spine.
 6. The floor assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the floor sheet and theprotrusion of the first end of the floor sheet extend a full length ofthe floor section.
 7. The floor assembly of claim 1, wherein the firstend of the floor sheet is connected to a second end of a second floorsheet by a weld.
 8. The floor assembly of claim 1, wherein a top surfaceof the key is flush with a top surface of the riser.
 9. The floorassembly of claim 1, wherein the first end of the floor sheet furtherincludes a downwardly extending foot having a first portion that abutsat least a portion of a top surface of the key and a second portion thatincludes a first coupling extension that extends away from the floorsheet; wherein the second end of the floor sheet includes a downwardlyextending leg having a second coupling extension extending away from thefloor sheet; and wherein the first and second coupling extensions ofdifferent floor sheets are positioned adjacent one another when thedifferent floor sheets are connected and the first and second couplingextensions are further configured to be welded together.
 10. The floorassembly of claim 1, wherein the first end of the floor sheet furtherincludes a downwardly extending foot from which the protrusion extends;wherein the second end of the floor sheet includes a downwardlyextending leg; and wherein the downwardly extending leg of the secondend and the downwardly extending foot of adjacent floor sheets arepositioned adjacent one another and portions of the downwardly extendingleg of the second end and the downwardly extending foot are welded. 11.The floor assembly of claim 10, wherein the downwardly extending footincludes a notch that receives and retains a projection that extendsinwardly from the downwardly extending leg.
 12. The floor assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the first end of the floor sheet further includes adownwardly extending foot from which the protrusion extends, thedownwardly extending foot further including a first toe portion; whereinthe second end of the floor sheet includes a downwardly extending legwith an outwardly extending foot having a second toe portion; andwherein the first and second toe portions of different floor sheets arepositioned adjacent one another and a weld beam is positioned betweenthe first and second toe portions.
 13. The floor assembly of claim 12,wherein the downwardly extending foot further includes an upwardlylocking heel that is spaced from the first toe portion to create adepression configured to form a snap fit engagement with the outwardlyextending foot of the second end of an adjacent floor sheet whendifferent floor sheets are positioned adjacent one another.
 14. Thefloor assembly of claim 1, wherein the first end of the floor sheetfurther includes a downwardly extending foot, the protrusion forming thenotch being positioned at a lower end of the downwardly extending footand further including a second notch formed within the downwardlyextending foot and spaced from the protrusion forming the notch; whereinthe second end of the floor sheet includes a flange; and wherein atleast a portion of the flange of one floor sheet is configured to bepositioned within the second notch of an adjacent floor sheet and a weldbeam is positioned in contact with portions of the first and second endsof the floor sheets adjacent the flange and the second notch.
 15. Amethod of assembling floor sections using a floor securing apparatus,the floor securing apparatus including a first floor sheet having firstand second ends and a protrusion forming a notch positioned at the firstend, a floor riser having a riser slot formed therein, and a keyincluding a locking head and at least one anchor tab, the methodcomprising the steps of: positioning at least a portion of theprotrusion of the first end of the first floor sheet in at least aportion of the riser slot; sliding the key into the slot with thelocking head of the key positioned within the notch of the first floorsheet; and positioning a second floor sheet identical to the first floorsheet with a second floor sheet surface adjacent a first floor sheetsurface of the first floor sheet.
 16. The method of claim 15, furtherincluding the step of positioning a weld beam adjacent the first floorsheet surface and the second floor sheet surface.
 17. A floor securingapparatus, comprising: a riser slot formed in a floor riser transverseto a longitudinal axis of the floor riser, the floor riser configured tosupport a floor sheet; and a key including a locking head and at leastone anchor tab, wherein the key is slidable into the riser slottransverse to the longitudinal axis of the floor riser, wherein the keyis configured to engage a portion of the floor sheet to prevent verticalmovement of the floor sheet relative to the floor riser.
 18. The floorsecuring apparatus of claim 17, wherein the locking head is positionedwithin the riser slot when the key is positioned within the riser slot.19. The floor securing apparatus of claim 17, wherein the locking headextends outwardly away from the riser and is not positioned within theriser slot when the key is positioned within the riser slot.
 20. Thefloor securing apparatus of claim 19, wherein a lower surface of thelocking head and an upper surface of the riser form a cavity into whicha portion of a floor section is configured to be positioned within thecavity to secure the floor sheet to the floor riser to prevent verticalmovement of the floor sheet relative to the riser.